A 16
Island Moon
Three Chords and the Truth By Ronnie Narmour ronnienarmour@gmail.com
Happy Holidays from the Moon Monkeys…
John Hogan on sound at Sam’s Burger Joint
The Moon Monkeys annual Christmas portrait. Riley P. Dog is on the floor.
Merry Christmas everybody and Happy New Year!!! I hope Santa was as good to you as he was to me… I got a new mandolin for Christmas this year. That’s right. My buddy Rockin’ Dale Rankin gave me a brand spanking new mandolin. I’ve already mastered D and G chords and A is on the way. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a bit partial to three chords. I love the sound of a mandolin and can’t think of a finer gift. We Moon Monkeys had our annual get together at Dale and Jan’s new house last week and took our annual Christmas portrait. That’s when I got my mandolin. This year Brent Rourk joined our ranks and got in on the portrait… he’s earned it and does a fine job with his features. I want to tell you, we all really love what we do and have a great time putting out our little rag week to week. It may not look like it, but we put a lot of love into every issue and appreciate every single one of our readers and advertisers. Thank you!
Toni Price, Bobby Blue Bland, Gatemouth Brown, Buckwheat Zydeco, C.J. Chenier, Boozoo Chavis, Zachary Richard, etc, etc.). As it turned out, my old sound man, John Hogan, is still running sound there. He has one of the best ears in the business and has worked shows for darn near everybody. I had seen both Zack Walthers and Tom Gilliam perform in Corpus and Port A and was familiar with them. Gilliam had my old pal, David Spencer, with him on lead guitar. David is married to Lisa Morales and is nothing short of a genius when it comes to guitar. I especially enjoy Zack Walthers voice… it’s beyond soulful. I had never been to Sam’s Burger Joint and was really impressed with the place. It looked, felt and sounded like a first class live music venue. There’s a lot of history in that place and I’m very proud that the Sam’s regime has kept the torch alive. If you are ever looking for a good live music joint in San Antonio, you can’t do better than Sam’s. They put on first class shows! I’m told the burgers are pretty good too.
Sam’s Burger Joint…
when it comes to soul singers… she’s simply the best. I may be a little prejudice being that managed her career for a number of years. The Black Ties were a total blast though, complete with doo-wop singers and a horn section who did dance steps ala’ Temptations. Scarlett Olsen The place was totally packed and everyone played the Continental Gallery in there had their soul last Saturday night shake on.
The Continental Club…
Guitar wiz David Spencer played with Tom Gilliam last Friday at Sam’s Burger Joint
I went to visit friends and family last weekend and spent Friday in San Antonio and Saturday and Sunday in Austin. My buddies, Tucker Tuesch II and Tucker Tuesch 3.0 were in S.A. from Talent, Oregon and I hadn’t seen either of them in quite some time. Tucker II is Joe King Carrasco’s brother and was introduced to me by Doug Sahm back in the early 90’s. They have a beautiful ranch up in Oregon which I love visiting. Tucker III and I went out looking for music on Friday and ended up at Sam’s Burger Joint to hear Zack Walthers and Tom Gilliam. I have a lot of history in that building back in an earlier incantation when it was Billy Blues circa: 1992. Back in the day we brought in some great shows (Buddy Guy, Jimmy Rogers, Junior Wells, Johnny Clyde Copeland, Marcia Ball, Joe Ely, James Cotton, Hubert Sumlin, Lou Ann Barton, Angela Strehli, Lavelle White,
On Saturday, I headed to Bastrop to see my family and later hooked up with my pal, Preacher Keen, to go out and hear some music in Austin. We started out on South Congress at the Continental Gallery next to the Continental Club and saw a young blues singer named Scarlett Olsen. She was an infant compared to some of the blues masters that have graced the stages of Austin, but showed a lot of poise and heart. Her song selection was tasty and her voice and delivery showed real promise. This young lady is on the right path. Next, we went next door to the legendary Continental Club which has certainly seen it’s share of musical giants through the years. The place only holds 125 people so they often put on three or four shows a night and clear the room after each act. The show we caught was an old school ten piece soul/ R&B band by the name of Latasha Lee and the Black Ties. Lee was a lady in perhaps her mid 30’s who led this big band with authority and precision. He voice was in the vein of Gladys Knight or Etta James but not as refined. I kept thinking, as good as this lady was, she still couldn’t hold a light to Miss Lavelle White. Miss Lavelle is my standard
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Sons of Fathers played the Armadillo Christmas Bizarre last Sunday
and pretended to shoot me with his guitar as if it was a rifle… it got a big laugh from the crowd and he made his point. In this day an age when absolutely everyone has a camera, it has become increasingly annoying when anyone and everyone can walk up and stick it in your face and damn your performance. I learned a lesson.
DO NOT MISS LIST
Mike Milligan and the Altar Boys will play Giggitys on New Year’s Eve Mike Milligan & the Altar Boys… After the Continental, we headed down to 6th Street to catch the Mike Milligan and the Altar Boy’s last set at B.D. Riley’s Irish Pub. These guys are old friends and play Port A often. They will be here at Giggity’s on New Year’s Eve. No matter where they are, this band gets the place hopping. Milligan plays a rowdy jump harmonica and every song is up tempo and driving. He’s somewhere between Junior Medlow and Charlie Musslewhite… I can’t think of a better show for New Year’s Eve.
Armadillo Christmas Bizarre…
Latasha Lee and the Black Ties played the Continental Club last Saturday night
December 26, 2013
On Sunday, I went back into Austin to go to the Armadillo Christmas Bizarre. This perennial event is held in the Palmer Events Center and is a huge deal with over 160 artists selling their wares. They always have the crème of Austin’s live music scene playing. I know this year Marcia Ball, Shelley King, Carolyn Wonderland, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Terri Hendrix, Band of Heathens, Jimmy LaFave, Elysa Gilkyson and Shinyribs (and much more) played. I saw Sons of Fathers while I was there. When I walked up to take their picture, the guitarist squared off at me
Tonight, Thursday the 26th, Robert Earl Keen will perform his annual Christmas show at Brewster Street Ice House. The always adorable Terri Hendrix will open the show. I did a fairly large preview in last week’s column but suffice it to say, you will be able to hear the crowd’s sing-along to Merry Christmas From the Family from at least a mile away. On Friday, the 27th, Lyrical Bynge will at Giggity’s, Stevie Start will be at Shorty’s and Mike Williams and Rocky Arnold featuring Eddie Olivares on saxophone will bring their long awaited jazz show to the Tarpon Ice House. Also on Friday, Ruben V will bring his guitar magic to Doctor Rockits and Scarecrow People will be at the Executive Surf Club. This will be an early show at 4:00 PM. On Saturday the 28th, the incomparable Shelley King (Austin, TX) will be at Shorty’s. This is the show to catch people… don’t miss this one. Also on Saturday, the Melissa Brooke Band will be at Giggity’s, JB and the Moonshine Band will be at Brewster Street and Chris Sanz will be at Scuttlebutt’s. On New Year’s Eve (Tuesday) the show to catch will be Mike Milligan at Giggity’s. Also, Ray T will be at the Flats, the nerd-rock band, the Spazmatics will be at Brewster, Green Party will be at Rockits and the great rockabilly party band,Matt Hole and the Hot Rod Gang, will be at the Executive Surf Club.
Be safe out there and either call a cab or have Betty Bail Bond on speed dial. Happy New Year!!!
And that’s the truth!
Live Music Tonight
Thursday, December 26 Free Beer Band @ Tarpon Ice House Robt. Earl Keen, Terri Hendrix @ Brewster Street Witness by Proxy, Resz, Victory by Birthright, Echo @ House of Rock Independent Thieves @ Dr. Rockits Friday, December 27 Lyrical Bynge @ Giggity’s Stevie Start @ Shorty’s Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Ruben V @ Dr. Rockits Robert Brown @ Scuttlebutt’s Scarecrow People @ Executive Surf Club Five Card Draw @ Brewster Street
Saturday, December 28 Melissa Brooke Band @ Giggity’s Shelley King @ Shorty’s Mike Williams @ Wild Horse Heroine CD Release @ House of Rock JB & Moonshine Band, Sam Riggs @ Brewster Street Green Party @ Dr. Rockits Chris Sanz @ Scuttlebutt’s Double R Nothing @ Executive Surf Club Sunday, December 29 Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s Echo @ Dr. Rockits John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s Memories in Broken Glass, Darkness Divided, Shattered Sun, Burried Under Texas @ House of Rock
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Wednesday, January 1 Wolfjaw @ Flats Lounge
Friday, January 3 John Cortez @ Giggity’s Jul & the Chrome Wheels @ Shorty’s Riverboat Gamblers, Johnny 5’s @ House of Rock Latin Talk @ Executive Surf Club Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Saturday, January 4 Jul & the Chrome Wheel @ Giggity’s Ruben Limas @ Shorty’s Quiet Company, Microphonic, Echo @ House of Rock 90 Proof @ Executive Surf Club Sunday, January 5 Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s Monday, January 6 Open Mic w/ Melissa Brooke @ Giggity’s Open Mic @ Scuttlebutt’s Tuesday, January 7 Riptide (6:30-10) @ Giggity’s Open Mic @ House of Rock Wednesday, January 8 Gravy, Temp Subs, Poetry & Prose @ House of Rock Wolfjaw @ Flats Lounge Thursday, January 9 Free Beer Band @ Tarpon Ice House
Monday, December 30 Open Mic @ Scuttlebutt’s New Year’s Eve, December Mike Milligan & the Altar Boys @ Giggity’s Spazmatics @ Brewster Street Green Party @ Dr. Rockits Ray T & City Crew @ Flats Lounge Matt Hole & the Hot Rod Gang @ Executive Surf Club
Thursday, January 2 Free Beer Band @ Tarpon Ice House Granger Smith, Cody Bryan @ Brewster Street Youth Brigade, Lower Class Brats, Avenue Rockers, Greedy Mouth @ House of Rock
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Friday, January 10 Red Giant @ Giggity’s Uncle Willey @ Shorty’s Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Stephen Rushlow, Hope & Hospitality, David Martinez @ House of Rock Saturday, January 11 Full Body Puappets @ Giggity’s Stevie Start @ Shorty’s Rockaholics @ House of Rock David Martinez Band @ Executive Surf Club